Litters



Aug. 9, 1956 G. A. MAGN! ETAL LITTERS 4 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 23,1964 IN VEN TORS GUSTAN/,4. MAG/w llg- 9, 1965 G. A. MAG-Nl ETAL.

LITTERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 23, 1964 INVENTORJ Gasmv A MAG/w ug-9, 1966 G. A. MAGNI l-:TAL

LITTERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 23, 1964 fig, /a

IN V EN TORS GUS my A?. MAM/w United States Patent O 3,264,659 LITTERSGustav Albert Magni, Lidingo, and Gsta Wilhelm Andersson, Stockholm,Sweden, assignors to Jarnhs Elektriska Aktiebolag, Solna, Sweden, acorporation of Sweden Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 413,135Claimspriority, application Sweden, Nov. 27, 1963, 13,110/63; April 22,1964, 4,952/ 64 6 Claims. (Cl 5-82) This invention relates to a litterto be used for moving injured or sick persons, the said litterfacilitating transfer from external transportation (e.g. by ambulance)-to internal transportation (through hospital processes) withoutdisturbing the position of the sick or injured person, which can be amatter of the utmost importance, especially when the patient has beeninvolved in a serious accident.

The litter according to this invention is characterized by thecombination of two litter frames, of which one is slightly smaller thanthe other .and fitted with a stretcher sheet and is insertable in theother, larger frame, the said larger frame normally lacking a stretchersheet, and is freely liftable from an underlying surface on which bothlitter frames have been placed with the smaller frame inserted in thelarger one, and of a separate stretcher sheet that can be placed as anextra'sheet over the smaller litter frame when a patient is to be placedon this, and which is provided with facilities for its attachment to thelarger litter frame when the small frame, together with the patient, hasbeen inserted in the larger frame.

The small litter frame which is provided with a stretcher sheet is usedfor external transportation (as an admission or ambulance litter) andthe large litter frame, which normally -lacks a stretcher sheet, forinternal transportation.

Before the injured or sick person is placed on the admission litter, theseparate stretcher sheet is placed over it. Upon arrival at the hospitaladmission department, the ambulance litter is pl-aced in .the largerlitter frame and -the separate stretcher sheet is hooked or |buckled tothe larger litter frame, which can then be lifted up together with thestretcher sheet and the injured or sick person immobilizedly restingthereon and transported to the appropriate hospital department bycarrying the litter or conveying it on a suitable litter trolley.

Since the litter frame intended for internal transportation isconsiderably wider than the one for external transportation it can alsoconveniently be used as an examination and treatment litter.

For a clearer understanding of the invention reference should be made toan embodiment thereof which is illustrated schematically in theaccompanying drawing, wherein: FIG. 1 is a plan view of the litter withthe small litter frame placed inside the large litter frame; FIG. 2 isan end View of the litter shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows a detail of theattachment device on the side poles for the large litter frame; FIG. 4shows a detail of the attachment device at the edge of the separatestretcher sheet; FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through the completeattachment device; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified embodimentof the large litter frame with a stretcher sheet secured to it; FIG. 7and FIG. 8 show a securing element for the stretcher sheet on the litterframe viewed from the side and in cross-section respectively; FIG. 9 isa cross-section through a specially formed stretcher sheet; and FIG. 10is a fragmentary plan view of the structure of FIG. 9.

According to FIG. 1, the smaller litter frame comprises two parallelpoles 1 and 2, which near the ends are interconnected by tubularcrossbars 3 and 4. A sheet 5 angular positions.

Patented August 9, 1966 Mice of a suitable material such as canvas issecured in the thuswise formed frame. At one end of the frame there maybe arranged a 'headrest 6, adjustable in different The reference numeral7 designates handgrips at the ends of the poles 1 and 2., the saidhandgrips being telescopically slidable into the said poles.

The large litter frame also comprises two parallel poles 8 and 9, whichnear the ends are interconnected by tubular crossbars 10 and 11. Thisframe has no stretcher sheet when it is not used for transport. Providedin the ends of the poles 8 and 9, in the same way as in the smallerlitter frame, may lbe telescopically slidable :handgrips (not shown). Asshown in FIG. 2, the crossbars 10 and 11 may advantageously be bentdownwards in the shape of a U, so that the crossbars 3 and 4 of thesmall litter frame are at a higher level.

The large litter frame is provided with rubber feet or similar members12 on its crossbars, whereas the small frame, as shown in FIG. 2, mayrest on wheels 13.

The reference numeral 14 designates a separate stretcher sheet, made ofa suitable material such as canvas, which can easily be attached to andreleased from the parallel poles 8 and 9 in the large litter frame.

For this purpose, the said poles 8 and 9 are provided at suitable pointswith projecting U-shaped shackles 15, and the stretcher sheet 14 hasalong its sides oblong holes surrounded by metal reinforcements 16,which can be passed over the shackles 15, whereafter, as shown in FIG.5, a leather strap 17 attached to the stretcher sheet is passed throughthe shackle projecting through the hole in the stretcher sheet so thatthe latter is securely held on the large frame.

When utilizing .this litter, it is the intention that the smaller littershall be used as an -admission or ambulance litter. Before the injuredor sick person is placed on this litter, the extra stretcher sheet 14 isput loosely over the litter. The litter with the injured or sick personis then driven to the hospital and in the admission department isinserted in the larger litter frame, whereupon the extra or loosestretcher sheet 14 is connected by means of the shown attachment deviceswith the parallel lengthwise poles 8 and 9 in the large litter frame.This, together with the stretcher sheet 14 and the injured or sickperson immobilizedly resting thereon, can then be carried or transportedto an examination, operation or treatment ward.

In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 6, the large litter framecomprises two parallel poles 18 and 19, which form the long sides of theframe, and two crossbars 20 and 21 which form the short sides of theframe. Of the two poles 18 and 19, the ends of which protrude beyond thecrossbars 20 and 21 in order to form carrying handles, at least one butpossibly both is pivotally mounted in the crossbars and provided withratchet gears 22. Further, the said poles are provided at suitablerelative distances with attachment devices for a stretcher sheet 23.

As one or both of the poles 18 and 19 is/or are rotatable and tted withratchet gears it is possible to roll the stretcher sheet 23 up onto thesaid poles and thus to stretch the said sheet. It is also possible touse a stretcher sheet that is substantially wider than the litter frame,e.g. two or three times as wide, in which case the excess width isnormally rolled up on the poles. By unrolling the sheet -from one poleand rolling it up on the other, it is thus possible to turn the patientover.

The attachment devices for the sheet at the poles 18 and 19 of thelitter frame may appropriately be executed as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.Slidably tted in a drillhole in the upper side of the pole 18 (19) is apin 24, which uppermost terminates with -a single or, as shown, possiblya double hook-shaped end 25, which is intended to grip onto a boltrope26 sewn into the edge of the stretcher sheet 23. The pin 24 has aslenderer extension 27which is passed out through a correspond-ingd-rillhole on the underside of the pole whe-re it supports a pivotallymounted operating handle 28 which can slide on the `said` pin 24. Theslidability of the handle is limited by means of a ange 33 tted to thepin. Inserted between the pin 24 and the inside of the pole is a helicalspring 29, which strives to push the pin extension 27 upwards. As shownin FIGS. 7 and 8, the handle 28 .is provided on the -sidey facing thepole with two recesses `34 andc35, in crosssectioncorresponding to theshape of the pole, which form a :rightangle with each other and of whichthe oney 34` (shown in FIG. 7) isdeeper and they other 35 (shown in FIG.8) is shallower. When the handle 28 takes up the position shown in FIG.8 with the sh-allower .recess resting against the pole, the pin24 isinserted so far that the edge of the stretcher sheet vwith the boltrope26 is denitely gripped between the hook-shaped end 1and v fthe pole.When the handle is turned through 90, whereby the deeper recess isadvanced towards the polefthespring 29v lifts the pin 24". thusreleasing the edge ofthe f stretcher sheet. The reference numeral 36designates a guidev pin attached to part 25', which enters .acorresponding hole in the pole 18 (19) and prevents part 25v fromrotating in relation to the pole.

As it is conceivable that the injured or sick -pe-rson must remain onthe stretcher sheetfor a considerable tim-e, it is appropriate to makethe sheet relatively soft in order to avoid'impeding the bloodcirculation. It can therefore be sewn double, as shown in FIGS. 9 and10,

a relatively thick pad 32 of foamed plastic or other suitable materialibeing inserted 'between the two layers of` and means Vforreleasablyattachingpsaid `separate sheet to said larger framen. 'i

2. "A litteras claimed .in claim 1,? said. larger frame.

having a pole forming a longl side of. saidlarger frame, said pole beingrotatable relative to .said Vlarger frame :so that said separateV sheet`can `be rolledup` and stretched around said pole.

3. IA litter a-s claimed in claim-2, saidV larger. frame having twolonger polesfboth of=whicl1arerotatably mounted relative to the largerframe,.said separate sheet having a width at leastV several vtimesl theEwidthV of lsaid smaller frame.

4. A litter asclairned incla'im-l, saidreleasably attaching` meanscomprisingV springrloadedpins extending through said ilarger frame, saidpinsl havingfhookashaped upper ends for gripping the. edge ofsaidseparate sheet,

said pins at-their .lowerends havingrotatable operating K. handles whichrest against said larger frame and which.

in one angular position hold said hook-shaped end-sspaced from thelarger frame and invanother. angular positionv hold said ends close tothe largerframe..

S. A litter; as claimed in .claim -1, in Whichsaid separate.

sheet lcomprise'stwo layers of material sewn togetherwith paddingIbetween them.; g,

6. A litter as claimed inclaimzlyin which said releasaly attaching means.comprises membersl on said Ylarger.

frame `insertatble through holes ingsaid ,separate shefetl4 ReferencesCited by:y the Examinerl i UNITED; STATES .PATENTS- 2,008,770 7/1935 fRaft@ 5 82 2,770,465 11/1956 yDamlumd1.... 5-sz-` 3,110,912 11/,1963Propst ;5-82` FOREIGN l PATENTs 491,846 2/'1919 France# FRANK B.-SHERRY; Primary Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A LITTER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION TWO LITTER FRAMES ONE OF WHICH ISOF A SIZE TO FIT WITHIN THE OTHER SO THAT BOTH FRAMES CAN REST ON ACOMMON SUPPORT WITH THE LARGER OF THE FRAMES LIFTABLE FROM ABOUT THESMALLER OF THE FRAMES, THE SMALLER OF THE FRAMES HAVING A FIRST SHEETTHEREON, A SECOND SEPARATE SHEET ON THE SMALLER FRAME, AND MEANS FORRELEASABLY ATTACHING SAID SEPARATE SHEET TO SAID LARGER FRAME.